Action Center

These are simple actions you can take to help animals.

You Have the Power to Change Things

The cruelty inflicted on farmed animals is terrible, but you can be a part of the movement that will end that abuse. Here’s how you can become a powerful voice for animals.

Share What You Know

Share What You Know

You know about the cruelty farmed animals endure. You may also know about the health benefits of vegan eating. But a lot of people don’t. Passing out Mercy For Animals booklets is a great way to share what you know with others.

And guess what? Research studies have found that these types of booklets are really powerful. They inspire people to change what they eat and what they think about farmed animals.

Step One:Order Booklets

Step Two:Pick a Spot

You can share these booklets anywhere you want: at home talking to a friend, at the doctor’s office, in your classroom, or at your neighbors’ doors. It’s up to you!

Want to reach a whole lot of people? Consider passing out booklets on a college campus or outside a high school, at a community event like an art show or festival, outside a concert, or by a subway, bus, or train station during rush hour. These are our favorite spots, but any street with a lot of foot traffic will do.

Step Three:Get Ready

You don’t need to be an expert—the booklet will do the talking for you. If you’re passing out booklets in public, try to dress like your audience. And while it’s easy to pass out booklets on your own, it’s more fun when you bring a friend.

And hey, here’s some good news! You have the legal right to pass out booklets on most public property in the U.S. and Canada. This includes almost all sidewalks, universities, and colleges.

Step Four:What to Say

If you’re giving a booklet to a friend, you probably already know what to say. But if you’re passing them out in public, here are a few helpful tips.

When leafleting, tilt your head, smile, and say hello or hi. Stand in the middle of the walkway, keep your arm straight and out in front of your body, and place the leaflet in someone’s hand. If you extend your hand all the way, bend at the waist, and lean in a bit toward the person, they’re more likely to take the leaflet. Saying things like “info to help animals” or “help animals” seems to work best.

Watch Video!

Step Five:Stay Positive, You Rock!

Passing out booklets is a numbers game. The more you pass out, the more animals you help. Don’t be discouraged by the fact that many people won’t be interested. Some people will be—and they’re the ones that matter! Avoid arguing or spending your time talking to hostile people.

Always be positive, polite, and encouraging. The goal isn’t to prove you’re right, or to demand that other people be perfect. The goal is to get people thinking about these issues so they'll eventually change. You rock for spreading a message of compassion to more people!

Show the Cruel Reality

Show the Cruel Reality

Video footage of the cruelty inflicted on farmed animals is incredibly powerful. Many people who see it are instantly changed. But how can we get people to watch this footage?

If you’re part of a school club or community group, consider setting up a “Paid-Per-View” (PPV) event. At PPV events you offer people a dollar to watch MFA’s four-minute video, What Cody Saw. Do it once, and you’ll see what a profound effect this video can have on people!

Step One:Download the Video

Click here on each computer or tablet you'll be using to download the four-minute video. Or go here for other download options and languages.

Step Two:Pick a Spot

College campuses and festivals are great locations for carrying out PPV. Get permission to set up your table in the same area as other student groups or vendors.

Step Three:Gather Supplies

You’ll want at least two laptops or tablet computers and several sets of headphones. Some people use "headphone splitters," cheap cables that allow you to plug two sets of headphones into each computer. You’ll also need a table and a stack of $1 bills, and you’ll want to print out this sign.

Lastly email us to order free copies of our Vegetarian Starter Guide and other literature to pass out at your table as well as a sign-up sheet for collecting email addresses. (Please allow three weeks for shipping within the United States. Shipments to other countries may take longer.)

Step Four:Get Funding (Optional)

If you don’t have enough money to cover the costs of carrying out PPV, the organization VegFund may be able to help with funding.

Step Five:Be Inviting

On the day of the event, be friendly and outgoing to encourage people to stop and watch the video. A good line to use is "We'll pay you a dollar to watch this short video!" If they ask what it's about, say, "It's about where your food comes from. It's just four minutes long and you'll get one dollar at the end." If possible, try to get more than one person watching each computer at a time.

Step Six:Start a Conversation

Once people have finished watching the video, talk to them. "So, what did you think?" is a good opener. Now is the perfect time to answer questions they have and share advice on eating vegan or reducing meat consumption.

Give everyone who watches the video a Vegetarian Starter Guide with a dollar bill inside. Also ask them to write their email addresses on the sign-up sheet so we can send them helpful resources on veg eating. (Be sure to email us a photo of the sign-up sheet afterwards.) Thanks for showing others the powerful reality of factory farming!

Speak Your Mind

Speak Your Mind

Don’t just tell your friends and family how you think farmed animals should be treated. Tell the world!

Writing a letter to the editor or an opinion piece for a newspaper is a great way to speak your mind about factory farming and vegan eating. Here’s how you can do it:

Step One:Pick a Topic

Look for recent news articles that relate to food or farmed animals, and write a letter to the editor in response. Or think about what’s going on in the world right now and write an opinion piece that connects the current event to farmed animals or vegan eating.

Step Two:Follow the Rules

Check out the “Opinion” or “About Us” pages on a newspaper’s website to see the submission guidelines. Letters to the editor are usually 100–200 words, and should refer to a specific article. Opinion pieces are longer, typically around 750 words. Always keep your writing as brief as possible, and be sure to include your contact information when submitting anything.

Step Three:Write Well

To get your message across, have one main point and stay on topic. Be positive: “We can all choose delicious vegan options” will go over better than “We shouldn’t eat meat.” Use inclusive words like “we” and “our” to relate to your readers, and avoid using jargon they won’t understand.

If you’re an expert, let them know. For example, you might say, “As a huge foodie,” “As a high school student,” or “As a veterinarian,” before making your point. Lastly, always end by letting readers know what they can do to help. Thanks for taking the time to speak up for farmed animals!

Become a Better Advocate

Become a Better Advocate

There are lots of opportunities to speak out for farmed animals and promote vegan eating. But what’s the best way to do it? Whether you’re talking to a friend, a family member, or a complete stranger, here are six tips that will help you succeed:

Step One:Be Kind and Positive

If people like you, they’ll listen to you. So be kind and stay positive when talking to others about farmed animals. If someone’s giving you a hard time, don’t get defensive; use humor to disarm them and recreate a friendly atmosphere. Also, never act judgmentally. Telling people they’re bad, or trying to guilt-trip them into doing what you want makes them less open to change.

Step Two:Make It Cool

Make sure people know how popular vegetarian eating is! Talk about the growing number of people cutting out or cutting back on meat. Name-drop celebrities who have gone vegetarian, and mention how many restaurants and grocery stores are now carrying amazing vegan options.

Watch Video!

Step Three:Make It About Them

Almost everyone is against cruelty to animals. Almost everyone wants to be healthier, and wants a cleaner planet. Point out that vegetarian eating is right in line with what people already believe and who they already are.

Step Four:Show People How

A lot more people would cut out or cut back on animal products if they knew how to do it. So show people how: Give simple, concrete tips on what to eat, where to shop, and how to stay healthy without animal products.

Watch Video!

Step Five:Start Off Easy

Most people see eating vegan as totally unrealistic. For people who are hesitant to make a major change, encourage them to start small by cutting out chicken or going meatless on Monday. Help them take the first step instead of demanding they take the last one.

Step Six:Get Smarter

Want to be the best advocate you can be? Here are our favorite essays on how to be smart about changing the world for animals: